Earthquake

It has been a while since I've felt an earthquake. But last night changed all that. We stayed here, at Lake Tahoe, in order to do so some winterizing, cover the patio furniture, meet with the furnace man to have the furnace serviced, etc.

Sometime after going to bed I felt the bed shaking - I grabbed my husband, thinking he was having some kind of seizure, (although he has never had one), or thought maybe the dog was doing it somehow. It was a pretty good shake. My husband appeared to be fine so I didn't think anything more of it when this morning he mentioned not seeing anything in the news about the earthquake last night. Earthquake? Is that what all the shaking was about?

Living in Reno, we're used to tremblers. I've felt quakes that literally rocked the furniture, but it hasn't happened in many years. We know that earthquakes have been swarming in recent months. I read that there were over 150 small ones right under our house. But we've never felt one at Lake Tahoe. It reminds me of this post on Mountain Tsunamis. They are possible here in the mountains, reminding me to make sure that our emergency plan takes into account that we spend a great deal of time here.

Most of us live in areas that have some kind of danger, lets face it. If Washington DC, and New York City can have an earthquake, despite being in an area of low seismic activity, then they can happen anywhere. Even if you're not sitting on a fault line, you are still residing on the earth's crust, and there is movement going on right underneath.

It reminds me to be thankful, once again, for each day, each minute, each blessing. This warm little house is a gift, and so many are without such luxury. My thoughts are with those in Turkey right now, those who were not so lucky as to just have had their bed shake.

Update: It was a 4.7 located 35 miles west of Reno.

Events

Whether you are a believer or not, it's obvious the world is amassing some major events. It has been a wild week - especially for Libya, Turkey (earthquake), Thailand (flooding), and of course, here in America with the GOP debates. (Always entertaining in a sad sort of way.) Not to mention Occupy "Everywhere." (I think the sleeping masses are beginning to stir.) We also have a hurricane building as we speak.

So here are a few things I have my eye on:

We have a new moon in Scorpio on the 26th - which is supposed to be great for new beginnings. Or in my case new partnerships. You can read all about that here, and find out what that might mean for you.

The end of the Mayan calendar ends on Friday, if Dr. Calleman is correct, as his date is different from December 21, 2012. You can read about that here.

We have 11-11-11 coming up just around the corner and the Mayan elders have revealed some new information. They have always kept their traditions within their inner circles, but have now been instructed to perform all of their ceremonies in public. The Ceremony of The Thirteen Skulls was last performed 26,000 years ago. They will be traveling with the thirteen Crystal Skulls from New York to Los Angeles for the end ceremony on 11-11-11, with several stops along the way. You can read all about that here, just in case you are like me and had no idea what the Crystal Skulls are all about. Now I wish I was available to watch a ceremony - maybe in Sedona.

Dr. Kashonia has done an in-depth analysis on geomagnetic and total pole reversals, and how they may tie in with 2012 prophecy. You can read about that here, just in case that has been a concern of yours. As you can see - she has been busy. I always like her research because she uses a variety of sources and utilizes critical thinking in her analyses.

We had a major solar flare yesterday, compressing Earth's magnetic field, you can read about that here.

With all that's going on in the world right now, I guess it's time to relax, think good thoughts, make sure you are prepared in case of an emergency, and then hang on, because this roller coaster seems to be picking up speed.

Generational Thinking

The Native American populations often looked nine generations ahead in their planning. In the following short video we see how this can be done with a structure that is not only strong but natural. A living bridge! If only we could see that our children are living bridges that connect us to the future. If only our leaders could see beyond the next election. If only our corporations could see beyond the next quarterly report...

The True Seat of Consciousness

(Alex Grey artwork)

I was recently asked -  what is going on in the world? What is happening to people that they seem so out of control and negative? Why are they so unhappy?

The question can be answered with one word - fear. People feel the changes happening in our world and without understanding what those changes might mean, they become fearful that it will mean loss. Loss of everything they have held dear - a way of life, job, house, car, money, security, health.

Their fear is not unfounded. Many people are facing loss. So how do we step outside of fear of loss? After all, everyone will experience it at some point.

I believe the only way to step back from fear is to learn to live from the heart, side stepping the mind - which is where fear lives, learning to live from the true seat of consciousness, which is the heart. (Remember - we grow out of a heart, not a brain.) This is not the sentimental heart in which we are familiar - soft, weak, reactive, feminine, sympathetic, needful. On the contrary, the heart of which I am speaking is empowered by the Creator. It is the vibrational point of equality, the original awareness - the place where individuality and Oneness occurs. It possesses uncommon intelligence, resilience, with the ability to flow and adapt. It is empowered, and is capable of unending compassion and love. This distinction is important.

So how do we access this heart?

First, we must have behavioral intelligence.

The first step is to have humility. Recognizing that we are no better or higher than any other human being. We were all created equal, and in that realization, everything changes.

Learn appreciation. Appreciation begins with recognizing the small things in life that make it full and abundant. That doesn't mean money or prestige, but appreciation of clean water, food, the air we breathe or the birds singing in the tree. It is the recognition of life itself. It is being mindful. Contentment with the mundane.

Practice compassion. Most of us are doing the best we can, although it doesn't always seem so. The best way to avoid being judgemental is to bless the person, place, or thing. It shifts the mind from negative to positive, and keeps you heart-centered.

Forgiveness and Understanding. Sometimes easier said than done. These two take practice. But when we learn to put ourselves in other people's shoes, we get a better understanding of where they may be coming from - which makes it easier to forgive.

And last but not least, we must be valiant in our efforts to do the right thing. Asking ourselves if it is the right thing to do - not always the easiest, or most gratifying, but the right thing can lead to the heart of a lion. Strong and fearless.


(Adapted from James the Wingmaker teachings. For more information go here.)

Secret History of the Global Collapse

Ever wonder how the global financial collapse actually happened? Who exactly are the people behind the scenes? I found this documentary on CMN, and from my personal research - this is how it went down.

With the world coming together and looking at solving these problems, it's a good idea to know the specifics of how it happened - so we can make sure it never happens again. We are lucky enough to be part of something really big. The stunned masses are beginning to stir, and history is being created. It won't happen overnight - but we outnumber the people who have run the show up until now. It's our turn.

Synchrosecrets did a wonderful post today on Indra's Net and how it relates to the Occupy Wall Street movement that is sweeping the world as we speak. One of the people commenting posted "Nine Commandments" that the Occupiers in London are using as their demands (at least some of them). I think they are perfect. What do you think?

1. The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.

2. We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.

3. We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.

4. We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.

5. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.

6. We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.

7. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.

8. We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.

9. This is what democracy looks like. Come and join us!

Living Fearlessly

Easier said than done. We are supposed to fear everything these days. The latest fear to hit our house is the vitamin scare. My husband, never a vitamin proponent, thinks I should fear my vitamins. After all, there is a new study somewhere that says vitamins may cause cancer. Well, I think fearing vitamins causing cancer, actually causes the cancer. Instead, I tell him, the pharmaceutical companies actually want to get a bill passed that would outlaw over-the-counter vitamins and require that we have to go to a doctor and get a Rx for our vitamins. Who do you suppose wins with that scenario?

We are being inundated with fear porn. I can't think of anything I'm just supposed to enjoy. So I'm consciously trying to shift my awareness to enjoying absolutely everything I can. If it's an icy cold Maker's Mark Manhattan served at our favorite restaurant, I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it! I know I'm not supposed to drink colored spirits, they're supposed to be bad for you, but I'm choosing instead to focus on what it is I like about that perfectly prepared luxury.

So when I came across this interview, I knew I was getting reinforcement that I'm heading in the right direction. It's time to live fearlessly. As Steve Jobs reminded us in his speech at Stanford University - "you have nothing to lose - you're already naked."

Can You Hear Us Now?

Dr. Kashonia from Australia has posted on Occupy Wallstreet and the worldwide effects she sees coming. She's posted several videos and does a good job explaining some of the organizations involved. Here is a song that I think speaks to many of us:

Our Little Angel

You may remember my posts here and here about my great niece, Lilly. She is a very special little girl. She is fighting the fight of her life right now and needs your prayers and positive energy. Please take a moment in your day and send her love and light. We know it makes a difference.

She came off the respirator today, but is still in ICU, so it is still touch and go, minute by minute. Her heart stopped earlier this week, and her mother literally saved her life.

If you can help by becoming a bone-marrow donor, or have a few dollars to send her single mother, here is the website for Team Lillian. 

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it.

Thank you to Hilary for Post Of The Week:

The Winds of Change

For anyone who is still in the dark about Occupy Wall Street, or the Arab Spring, here is a great article. This man took many of my thoughts and organized them into a thoughtful and substantive essay. We are in a time of correction. The world is wildly out of balance. We're literally killing ourselves and our planet, and now we need to try and fix it.

We're never going back to an economy driven by insatiable appetites for stuff bought with debt. We're over that. It's time for our economists to start thinking of a new paradigm. We're the 99%'ers, and even if we're doing okay in this economy, all we have to do is look around to confirm the inequity. We're at the end of a monetary system that excludes 99% of its population. One that indebts its children for years, just for an education. Or takes the elderly person's home to pay for healthcare. Our systems are failing us.

Time for our politicians to hop on board, or move aside. After all, they're supposed to be working for us - not the next big corporate donor.

A new wind is blowing. It is the wind of change, and it will not be stopped. It's time to start designing a new world based on unity and fairness, one that supersedes borders and boundaries, having nothing to do with religion, race, culture, or color. Where all people, everywhere, are important and matter. A world that is grateful,appreciative, and respectful of its home planet. Nothing less will do.

So, put on your thinking cap. I think we're going to need it.

Digital Zombies

Are we becoming desensitized humans because of our attachments to digital outlets? Do we think that because we are so connected digitally that we have no need to be connected in other ways?

Two things have brought this to my attention. The other day my daughter was riding her bike in Portland when she swerved to avoid a construction site that had spilled out into the street, causing her to crash and hurt herself on train tracks. What was so unusual was that there was a man standing three feet from her putting coins in a meter and he didn't even look up. The construction guys laughed and didn't help her up in any way, nor did they ask her if she was alright as she limped by.

The second incident involved a family member willing to cut off two siblings over a slight that was mostly imagined on her part - certainly not something that was intentional on the part of the two siblings.

What is happening here? My daughter feels the men that watched her crash are digitally desensitized. They watch things crash and get hurt through video games, television shows, etc, and it requires a passive response. Have our brains been rewired to not respond when something is happening in real time? Do family members not feel a connection to other family members because their lives are so full of being busy that people that care about them no longer matter?

Our minds are funny things - they tend to gravitate to what is familiar - regardless of whether it is the right thing to do. If passive or irritated reactions to a world that is picking up speed is the accustomed response, then that's where it will go automatically.

For my part, I've noticed a need to disconnect from my blog a bit because of this very issue. Instead of making an effort with friends, it was much easier to communicate on my blog. Admittedly, my blogging friends tend to think more like myself, but that should not stop me from committing time and energy to enjoying others - despite our increasing differences. We learn from differences. We learn tolerance, we learn to care about others besides ourselves, and we learn that flesh and blood hurts when it falls.